The accident has triggered interest into the number of helicopters flying over London and the rules and regulations facing helicopter pilots. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have strict guidelines in place over the London Control Zone (CTR), a portion of Controlled Airspace (CAS). Transport correspondent, Gwyn Topham writes today:

Helicopters are generally only permitted to fly on strict routes over central London, in the controlled airspace up to 800 metres (2,500ft). Flights within the London Control Zone must get air traffic control clearance and comply with instructions from controllers.

The CAA publish a map of authorised helicopter routes over Central London and within the CTR. Although single engine helicopters must always follow the helicopter routes, the CAA state that multi-engine helicopters can be provided with an air traffic control clearance to transit elswhere throughout the London CTR.

The CAA also publish figures on the number of helicopter operations within the London Heathrow and London City control zones. The line chart above shows the number of helicopter operations recorded each month since 2007. The latest available data is for October 2012 when there were 1,565 helicopter movements recorded.

A spokesman for CAA has confirmed that the accident in Vauxhall is the first fatal helicopter accident in London since their records began in 1976. The CAA also told the Guardian that up until today, 36 fatal helicopter incidents had been recorded in the UK since 1998.

The total number of helicopter movements reported by the CAA for 2012 (up to and including October 2012) were 16,354. The table below shows the figure for each month since 2007. The spreadsheet has daily records for October, September and August 2012, which also have breakdowns by time of travel and route.

Data summary

Total helicopter operations in London by month and year

Year

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

January

2,145

1,877

1,360

1,209

1,312

1,297

February

2,227

2,192

1,465

1,390

1,309

1,295

March

3,195

2,145

1,893

2,315

2,030

1,717

April

3,083

2,699

2,020

1,930

2,152

1,491

May

3,714

3,071

2,639

2,521

2,446

2,076

June

3,978

4,310

3,475

3,088

2,842

1,819

July

3,659

3,503

2,876

3,360

2,883

1,875

August

2,783

2,057

2,464

1,946

1,734

1,426

September

3,279

2,802

2,901

2,389

2,286

1,793

October

2,663

2,809

2,559

2,152

2,245

1,565

November

2,348

1,881

2,095

1,915

1,483

December

1,798

1,799

1,512

819

1,329

Source: CAAIncludes helicopter operations within the London Heathrow and London City Control Zones